CNSL 503 MODULE 3 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Which of the following are examples of ordinal variables? Select all that
apply.- Shirt sizes- college major- places in a marathon (1st, 2nd, 3rd)-
Temperature.
Answer: -shirt sizes, places in a marathon Explanation: ordinal is used for
qualitative variables and includes ranking in size or measure (does not
indicate how much the data differ)
◍ Why is it important that extraneous variables be taken into account in an
experimental study?.
Answer: Extraneous variables may have an effect on the dependent variable
and could skew the results of an experiment.
◍ When a variable can contain negative values, what type of scale is most
appropriate? Why?.
Answer: An interval scale because variables containing negative values do
not have an absolute zero. Note: this is quantitative data
◍ true or false: a statistic applies to a population, and a parameter applies to a
sample.
Answer: FALSE! A statistic applies to a sample, whereas a parameter
applies to a populationRemember: s to s and p to p
◍ when viewing a scatterplot of the number of pairs of shoes a person owns
and the number of cups of coffee they drink per day, the points are
widespread throughout the graph and do not approximate a specific line.
This would be an example of what type of relationship?- positive
correlation- negative correlation- no correlation- curvilinear correlation.
, Answer: No correlation
◍ interquartile range (IQR).
Answer: represents the middle 50% of the values in a dataset = Q3-Q1
◍ What value is used to measure the variances in an ANOVA?- standard error-
standard deviation- mean square- mean difference.
Answer: mean square
◍ Box plot (box and whiskers plot).
Answer: displays the variation in a set (or sets) of data by plotting the
five-number summary (minimum, maximum, range, median, and
interquartile range)
◍ true or false: convenience sampling typically results in a biased sample.
Answer: TRUE!
◍ _________ statistics involves analyses that provide a way to summarize and
describe data, whereas _________ statistics are performed for researchers to
make inferences and generalizations about populations based on sample
data..
Answer: Answer: descriptive; inferential Explanation: descriptive statistics
involve calcluations like mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance,
and range. Inferential statistics involve calculations such as those use for
hypothesis testing (z-scorem, t-test, ANOVA, correctional analyses).
◍ The total frequencies for each column and row in a contingency table are
known as ______..
Answer: Marginal values
◍ Continuous variables.
Answer: Variables that can theoretically be broken down into infinitely
smaller, fractional components
◍ which of the following are some of the major critiques of hypothesis
testing? select all that apply.- the significance level is an arbitrary value-
there is publishing bias towards results that are not statistically significant- p
, values do not reflect the size of an effect- hypothesis testing is unaffected by
sample size- the results of hypothesis testing are frequently misinterpreted
and misunderstood.
Answer: -the significance level is an arbitrary value-p values do not reflect
the size of an effect-the results of hypothesis testing are frequently
misinterpreted and misunderstood
◍ Which of the following is a measure of variability?- mean- median- range-
mode.
Answer: range
◍ true or false: a repeated measures study is also known as between-subjects
study.
Answer: false! a repeated measures study is also known as a WITHIN
SUBJECTS study
◍ Researchers survey a sample of 100 participants regarding their favorite
season of the year. Calculate the expected frequency for each category..
Answer: E = n / k = 25
◍ an automotive manufacturer is looking at the variables of vehicle price and
mpg. What would the null hypothesis state?.
Answer: Ho: Vehicle price and mpg are not relatedHo: p = 0 (there is no
relationship between vehicle price and mpg)
◍ true or false: Pearson's r is a ratio of the degree to which X and Y vary
together to how they vary separately..
Answer: TRUE! it is calculated to determine the degree and direction of the
relationship. It is a ratio of "covariability" of X and Y to their separate
variabilities
◍ Jenna takes her male golden retriever to the vet for a yearly check-up. The
dog's weight is 73 lbs. The average weight for a male golden retriever is 71
lbs with a standard deviation of 1.7 lbs. Calculate the z-score for this value..
Answer: z = X - μ / σz score = sample value - population mean / standard
deviation= (73 - 71) / 1.7= + 1.18
, ◍ A study investigating cell phone brand preference recruits 500 participants
and asks each participant for their preference of 4 choices of cell phones.
What would the expected frequency be for each category? What is the df?.
Answer: 125 (500/4 =125); df = 3
◍ which of the following tends to decrease statistical power? select all that
apply.-large sample sizes-two tailed tests-high significance levels-one tailed
tests-low α levels.
Answer: -two tailed tests -low α levels Note: Large effect sizes, large sample
sizes, one-tailed tests, and higher significance levels tend to INCREASE
statistical power.
◍ a _____________ is a frequency distribution of each statistic from every
possible sample of a given size from the population.
Answer: sampling distribution
◍ What is one advantage of using a bar chart over a pie chart?.
Answer: Unlike pie charts, bar charts can be used to display the frequencies
for numerous categories and are, therefore, used more often to display the
results from studies with large datasets
◍ What is the difference between Type I and Type II errors?.
Answer: Type I errors are false positives, whereas Type II errors are false
negatives.
◍ Frequency polygon.
Answer: a type of line graph used to present scores from an interval or ratio
scale
◍ Researchers are studying the relationship between room lighting and exam
scores. After they conduct their experiment, they find a statistically
significant result that provides evidence that a dimly lit room results in
decreased performance on an exam. However, in reality, there is no
relationship between room lighting and exam performance. What type of
error was made by the researchers? Explain your answer..
Answer: Type 1 error - "false positive"in this case the researchers rejected
STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Which of the following are examples of ordinal variables? Select all that
apply.- Shirt sizes- college major- places in a marathon (1st, 2nd, 3rd)-
Temperature.
Answer: -shirt sizes, places in a marathon Explanation: ordinal is used for
qualitative variables and includes ranking in size or measure (does not
indicate how much the data differ)
◍ Why is it important that extraneous variables be taken into account in an
experimental study?.
Answer: Extraneous variables may have an effect on the dependent variable
and could skew the results of an experiment.
◍ When a variable can contain negative values, what type of scale is most
appropriate? Why?.
Answer: An interval scale because variables containing negative values do
not have an absolute zero. Note: this is quantitative data
◍ true or false: a statistic applies to a population, and a parameter applies to a
sample.
Answer: FALSE! A statistic applies to a sample, whereas a parameter
applies to a populationRemember: s to s and p to p
◍ when viewing a scatterplot of the number of pairs of shoes a person owns
and the number of cups of coffee they drink per day, the points are
widespread throughout the graph and do not approximate a specific line.
This would be an example of what type of relationship?- positive
correlation- negative correlation- no correlation- curvilinear correlation.
, Answer: No correlation
◍ interquartile range (IQR).
Answer: represents the middle 50% of the values in a dataset = Q3-Q1
◍ What value is used to measure the variances in an ANOVA?- standard error-
standard deviation- mean square- mean difference.
Answer: mean square
◍ Box plot (box and whiskers plot).
Answer: displays the variation in a set (or sets) of data by plotting the
five-number summary (minimum, maximum, range, median, and
interquartile range)
◍ true or false: convenience sampling typically results in a biased sample.
Answer: TRUE!
◍ _________ statistics involves analyses that provide a way to summarize and
describe data, whereas _________ statistics are performed for researchers to
make inferences and generalizations about populations based on sample
data..
Answer: Answer: descriptive; inferential Explanation: descriptive statistics
involve calcluations like mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance,
and range. Inferential statistics involve calculations such as those use for
hypothesis testing (z-scorem, t-test, ANOVA, correctional analyses).
◍ The total frequencies for each column and row in a contingency table are
known as ______..
Answer: Marginal values
◍ Continuous variables.
Answer: Variables that can theoretically be broken down into infinitely
smaller, fractional components
◍ which of the following are some of the major critiques of hypothesis
testing? select all that apply.- the significance level is an arbitrary value-
there is publishing bias towards results that are not statistically significant- p
, values do not reflect the size of an effect- hypothesis testing is unaffected by
sample size- the results of hypothesis testing are frequently misinterpreted
and misunderstood.
Answer: -the significance level is an arbitrary value-p values do not reflect
the size of an effect-the results of hypothesis testing are frequently
misinterpreted and misunderstood
◍ Which of the following is a measure of variability?- mean- median- range-
mode.
Answer: range
◍ true or false: a repeated measures study is also known as between-subjects
study.
Answer: false! a repeated measures study is also known as a WITHIN
SUBJECTS study
◍ Researchers survey a sample of 100 participants regarding their favorite
season of the year. Calculate the expected frequency for each category..
Answer: E = n / k = 25
◍ an automotive manufacturer is looking at the variables of vehicle price and
mpg. What would the null hypothesis state?.
Answer: Ho: Vehicle price and mpg are not relatedHo: p = 0 (there is no
relationship between vehicle price and mpg)
◍ true or false: Pearson's r is a ratio of the degree to which X and Y vary
together to how they vary separately..
Answer: TRUE! it is calculated to determine the degree and direction of the
relationship. It is a ratio of "covariability" of X and Y to their separate
variabilities
◍ Jenna takes her male golden retriever to the vet for a yearly check-up. The
dog's weight is 73 lbs. The average weight for a male golden retriever is 71
lbs with a standard deviation of 1.7 lbs. Calculate the z-score for this value..
Answer: z = X - μ / σz score = sample value - population mean / standard
deviation= (73 - 71) / 1.7= + 1.18
, ◍ A study investigating cell phone brand preference recruits 500 participants
and asks each participant for their preference of 4 choices of cell phones.
What would the expected frequency be for each category? What is the df?.
Answer: 125 (500/4 =125); df = 3
◍ which of the following tends to decrease statistical power? select all that
apply.-large sample sizes-two tailed tests-high significance levels-one tailed
tests-low α levels.
Answer: -two tailed tests -low α levels Note: Large effect sizes, large sample
sizes, one-tailed tests, and higher significance levels tend to INCREASE
statistical power.
◍ a _____________ is a frequency distribution of each statistic from every
possible sample of a given size from the population.
Answer: sampling distribution
◍ What is one advantage of using a bar chart over a pie chart?.
Answer: Unlike pie charts, bar charts can be used to display the frequencies
for numerous categories and are, therefore, used more often to display the
results from studies with large datasets
◍ What is the difference between Type I and Type II errors?.
Answer: Type I errors are false positives, whereas Type II errors are false
negatives.
◍ Frequency polygon.
Answer: a type of line graph used to present scores from an interval or ratio
scale
◍ Researchers are studying the relationship between room lighting and exam
scores. After they conduct their experiment, they find a statistically
significant result that provides evidence that a dimly lit room results in
decreased performance on an exam. However, in reality, there is no
relationship between room lighting and exam performance. What type of
error was made by the researchers? Explain your answer..
Answer: Type 1 error - "false positive"in this case the researchers rejected
